downing



(No Model.)

J; L. DOWNING.

T HILL COUPLING.

Patented Feb. 3

.ATTDR NEY .5-

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES L. DOWVNING, OF RICHMOND, ILLINOIS, 'ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO G. H. WVELLS, OF SAME PLACE.

THlLL-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 311,819, dated February 3, 1885.

Application filed November 22, 1894. (N model.)

To all whom it DMZ/y concern.-

Be it known that I, J. L. DOWNING, a citi- Zen of the United States of America, residing at Richmond, in the county of McHenry and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Thill-Conplings, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompany ing drawings.

This invention pertains to improvements in thill-couplings; and it consists in the detailed construction, combination, and arrangement of parts, substantially as hereinafter more fully set forth and claimed. :5 In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a side elevation of my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the same. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view, and Fig. 4 is a modification of my invention.

In carrying out my invention I employ the ordinary axle-clip, A, having integral therewith at its front portion the shackle B, provided with arms a, having apertures for reception of a bolt or pin, a. The bolt or pin 2 a is designed to be inserted in eye a in the thill-iron O, to retain the same in position.

The axle-clip A has, as usual, two threaded ends or extensions, 2), designed for reception of a yoke, D, which is provided with two apo ertures for reception of said threaded ends of the axle-clip A. The outer forward end of the yoke D is provided with two cars or extensions, d, cast integral with said yoke. These ears or extensions d are each provided with 3 5 apertures for reception of a bolt or pin, 61,

the purpose of which will appear hereinafter.

E is a metallic plate, having integral therewith at its under side two ears or extensions,

e, similar to those of the yoke D, and are'likeo wise provided with apertures for reception of the ends of the bolt or pin (1., which forms a pivotal bearing for the same.

Around the bolt or pin (1 is a coil-spring,

F, one end of which rests against the upper side of the yoke D and the other end against the under side of the plate E.

At the outer forward end of the plate Eare two flanged extensions, f, which are designed to press against the ends of the bolt or pin a by the action of the spring F on the plate E.

From the foregoing it will be seen that, should it be required at any time to detach the thill-iron O, the same can be readily effected by pressing the thumb against a small curved portion, f, of the plate E, and thereby remove the flanged extensions or plates f from the ends of the bolt or pin a and allow the same to be removed from the eye c" in the end of the thill-iron.

I do not confine myself strictly to the above 6 means of carrying out my invention, as it will be seen by reference to Fig. 4 that when desired the yoke D may be extended up between the two arms a of the shackle B, and by inverting the plate E the flanged extensions f will be held in direct contact with the ends of the bolt or pin a, thus accomplishing the same result as by use of the albredescribed means.

Having thus fully described my invention,

JAMES L. DOVV'NING.

Witnesses:

MARK M. STONE, W. JoNEs. 

